Gas-detector alarm and valve-actuating means



D e c. 7 1926. 1,609,930

I A. COHEN GAS DETECTOR ALARM 'AND ALVE ACTUATING MEANS Filed Feb. 14,--1925 INVEN TOR HBRAHAM COHEN V .4 TTORNEYS l atented near, 1926.

UNITED STATES ABRAHAM connm or NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAS-DETECTOR ALARM AND VALVE-ACTUATING MEANS.

Application filed February This invention relates to a simple andeflicient apparatus whereby the escape of gas from a system will soaffect the apparatus as to cause a valve controlling the supply of gasto be shut off.

Another object concerns the provision of means whereby the closingof'the valve can and a signal such as a bell, is closed.

'electrom'agnetlc device operates an element 'WlHCll releases the gasvalve, which 15 then be effected from any one of a number of pointsthroughout the system.

A further object concerns the provision of means whereby the merepresence of gas in ever so small quantities in the vicinity of thedetector will cause it to be actuated.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, of which Figure 1 is adiagrammatic view of the apparatus and the circuits involved; and

' Figure 2 is a modified form of part of the invention.

In view of the fact that so many accidents occur through the leakage ofgas in houses and buildings, it is highly desirable to provide anapparatus which will detect the presence of unburned gas, especiallyilluminating gas, an instantly operate to cut off the supply, Oftentimesa circulation of air through a room will blow out a dim gas flameunknown to the persons in the house, or the gas pressure may varysufficiently to cause the extinguishment of the flame without giving anynotice of its action so that proper persons can turn off the supply. Forthese reasons it is very important that a de-, tector device capable ofbeing sensibly affected by the mere presence of unburned gas beestablished at one or more places throughout the system so that whenevera leak occurs in any part of the system the main supply will preferablybe cutoff.

To this end I have provided an electrical circuit which is normallyopen. The circuit is open at a switch, preferably a resilient member,which is held open by a fusible connection, the resiliency of the switchwhen re leased normally tending to move it to its closedposition,.immediately upon which the circuit, through an electromagneticdevilcle T e closed by a spring action.

In order to cause the fusing of the link holding the circuit switchnormally open. I have provided a substance-which will become warm orsufficiently heated by the mere presence of unburned gas to heat the 14,1925. Serial 1%. 9,228.

fusible connection sufiiciently to cause it to break. This actionhowever takes place without tlie generation of sufficient heat toachieve an incandescent state. This state is not desired because the gasmust not be ignited. This substance referred to is preferably platinumsponge.

In Figure 1 there is disposed a gas pipe, part of asystem,- in which avalve casin'g 2 is disposed having a valve handle 3 engaged by a spring4 tending normally to move the valveto its closed position. This valveis preferably held in its open position by the engagement with thehandle 3 of a detent bar 5. This bar acts as an armature for an electricmagnet 6 and is moved to such a position when said magnet is energizedas to remove it from the path, of engagement with the handle 3. Thiselectromagnet is in circuit with a bell 7, a battery 8 and switchmembers 9 and 10. The switch member 9 can be adjusted, and the switchmember 10 is mounted preferably on a resilient arm 11 which is held insuch a position by a fusible flexiblelink 12 as to keep the member 10out of contact with the member 9. The other end of the, fusible element12 is engaged with an adjustable member 13 so that the degree ofseparation between the,

switch elements or members can be adjusted. Likewise the switch element9 is mounted on an adjustable member 14. Adjacent an intermediate pointof the fusible element 12 is a detector element 15 which is suitablymounted on a support 16 of any type. This detector element 15 may bedirectly in contact with the fusible element 12 as shown in Figure 1 ormay be merely in close proxim' ity thereto. However, the-element 15 isof such material as will become heated by the mere presence of gas, anextent that the, preferably, very fine fusible element or filament 12will break and permit the switch element. 10to spring into contact withthe switch element 9, whereby closed position immediately by the actionof spring 4. Figure and heated to suchthe circuit through theelectromagnet 6 and the bell or signal 7 is closed, cans-"f 2 shows amagnet 17 in which the bell clapper 18 is rovided with a projection 19acting as a gized the clapper rings a bell and removes the projection 19from the valve lever so that the s ring 21 will close the valve. In thismodillcation, therefore, the clapper performs the function of a bellringin device and a valve releasing device at t e same time. 1

It will be observed that this device is inex nsive sim la in itsconstruction and operation and 1s capable of bein actuated immediatelyupon the escape o sufiicient gas to actuate the detector. The operationof the detector and its relation to the fusible element can be sodesigned that the valve will be closed almost immediately upon theescape of any gas whatsoever;

What I claim is zetent in the path of the valve lever 20, and when themagnet is ener-' A as detector and alarm device, which inclu es a gasvalve, spring means engaging with a ortion of said move it to c osedposition, detent means normally lying in the path of a portion of saidvalve to hold it in an open position, an elecopen, said gas detectordisposed in proxim-,

ity to said fusible member and affected by the presence of unburned gasto generate suflicient heat to fuse said member, said switch adapted toclose when released by the fusing of said member.

ABRAHAM COHEN.

valve tending, to

